RAD Case Study: The Florida Reef Tract

The Florida Reef Tract, the only tropical coral reef system in the continental USA, is transforming due to warming ocean temperatures and other change drivers. It is home to over 500 fish and thousands of invertebrate species and generates US$6 billion per year in coastal tourism and fishing that are at risk due to system change. Resisting transformation is the central management response to the loss of reef-building corals within this ecosystem. Some climate-related mass mortality events and associated shifts in community composition may have to be accepted if global sea surface temperatures are allowed to fluctuate outside of historical ranges. Experiments assessing stress tolerance show promise for directing change towards hardier corals.